UK faces new legal challenge over arms sales to Saudi Arabia – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2020 in international trade, judicial review, licensing, news, Saudi Arabia, weapons by sally

‘Campaigners have filed for a judicial review of the UK government’s decision to renew arms sales to Saudi Arabia.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serious Fraud Office prosecutes Airbus subsidiary over alleged corruption – The Guardian

‘The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is prosecuting a UK subsidiary of Europe’s largest aerospace multinational, Airbus, along with three men over alleged corruption in an arms deal with Saudi Arabia.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

How to divine statutory purpose: the Israel/arms trade disinvestment case – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This case is about Government “Guidance” aimed at local authorities, banning some of those “ethical” objections to investment policies but allowing other objections. “Guidance” in quotes because the net effect of the Act and secondary legislation was to make the Guidance mandatory: see [10] of Lord Wilson’s judgment. In particular, the policy ban was to apply to (a) boycotts to foreign nations and (b) UK defence industries. The sharp focus of the former was Israel. No surprises that the Quakers and the Campaign against the Arms Trade should appear in support of the challenge to the latter.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th April 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Police tasering of man with mental health issues ‘contributed to his death’ – The Guardian

‘Truro inquest hears Marc Cole was hit three times as family calls for review of stun guns.’

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The Guardian, 28th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police deployment of tasers doubles in two years in face of rising violence by suspects – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 20th, 2019 in firearms, news, police, statistics, violence, weapons by tracey

‘Police deployed tasers a record 23,000 times last year in face of increasingly violent suspects, double the number just two years ago, Home Office figures show.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tory minister admits UK breached court order banning arms sales to Saudi Arabia again – The Independent

‘The government has again admitted breaching a court order banning arms sales to Saudi Arabia over concerns they could be used in the Yemen war.’

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The Independent, 26th September 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More police officers to be armed with Tasers in London – The Independent

Posted September 18th, 2019 in London, news, police, weapons by tracey

‘More police officers in London are to be armed with Tasers following calls for the weapons to be rolled out for their own protection, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has said.’

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The Independent, 17th september 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government apologises for breaching court ruling against arms sales to Saudi Arabia – The Independent

‘The government has apologised for breaching a court ruling against the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the Yemen conflict.’

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The Independent, 16th September 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK ministers challenge court ruling on Saudi Arabia arms sales – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, export controls, news, Saudi Arabia, statistics, Supreme Court, war, weapons by sally

‘Ministers have asked the courts to set aside a landmark ruling that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful, a legal manoeuvre that prompted Jeremy Corbyn to accuse the Conservatives of prioritising military exports over civilian lives.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Yossi Nehushtan: The Unreasonable Perception of Rationality and Reasonableness in UK Public Law – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in EC law, export controls, international law, news, weapons by sally

‘In the recent case of R (Campaign Against Arms Trade) v Secretary of State for International Trade [2019] (hereinafter CAAT), the Court of Appeal invalidated the UK government’s decision to grant licences for the sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia for possible use in the conflict in Yemen. The court found that the government had violated Article 2.2 of the EU Common Council Position 2008/944/CGSP, as adopted in the Secretary of State’s 2014 Guidance. Article 2.2 compels Member States to deny a licence for the sale of military equipment to other states if there is a clear risk that this equipment might be used ‘in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law’.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 1st July 2019

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Arm Sales to Saudi Arabia: Evaluating the Clear Risk of Violations of IHL – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted June 26th, 2019 in appeals, export controls, human rights, international law, news, weapons by sally

‘On Thursday 20 June, the Court of Appeal issued its open judgment in the appeal concerning the lawfulness of the grant by the UK Government of export licences for arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”), for possible use in the conflict in Yemen. In their judgment, Sir Terence Etherton MR, Irwin LJ and Singh LJ allowed the appeal by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (“CAAT”), remitting the decision to issue said licences by the Secretary of State for International Trade for reconsideration in accordance with the correct legal approach.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 26th June 2019

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful, court of appeal declares – The Guardian

‘British arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been ruled unlawful by the court of appeal in a critical judgment that also accused ministers of ignoring whether airstrikes that killed civilians in Yemen broke humanitarian law.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Violent offenders avoiding criminal records through controversial community resolutions – Daily Telegraph

‘Violent criminals, burglars and sex offenders are among more than 100,000 people escaping prosecutions each year by opting for community resolutions, according to new figures.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th June 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Knife and offensive weapon offences reach highest level for decade – The Guardian

‘Numbers of knife and offensive weapon offences have risen to their highest level for nearly a decade, with the number of cases dealt with by the criminal justice system up by more than a third since 2015, figures have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Continued use of Taser on autistic male was disproportionate – UK Police Law Blog

Posted June 11th, 2019 in autism, news, police, self-defence, weapons by tracey

‘In Gilchrist v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police [2019] EWHC 1233, the High Court considered officers’ use of force in the context of use of CS gas and a taser repeatedly upon a man who was autistic and mentally distressed and found that its continued use became unlawful. Whereas the initial use of CS gas and Taser were justified, once the police learned of the male’s vulnerability as an autistic man and noted that his behaviour was defensive rather than aggressive, a more cautious approach should have been adopted.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 29th May 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Police dog Finn’s law comes into force – BBC News

‘A new law named after a police dog which recently appeared on Britain’s Got Talent has come into effect.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2019 c. 18 – Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019

2019 c. 17 – Offensive Weapons Act 2019

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Family President to issue guidance to courts on secure accommodation placements and statutory regime – Local Government Lawyer

‘The President of the Family Division has said he will issue practice guidance to the courts before the end of July so that more can be done to bring secure accommodation placements within the statutory regulatory scheme.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Police officer who shot unarmed black youth worker was ‘following procedure’, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted April 2nd, 2019 in codes of practice, news, ombudsmen, police, racism, weapons by tracey

‘A police officer who shot an unarmed black man on his way to the shops was “following procedure”, a watchdog has found.’

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The Independent, 1st April 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mark Duggan family to sue Met Police over death – BBC News

‘The family of Mark Duggan, whose death sparked riots across England in August 2011, are suing the Metropolitan Police for damages, BBC News has learned.’

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BBC News, 23rd March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk